Hi again. Thank you so much for your reviews. I really appreciate them. Alsoa BIG shout out to Misty who have betaread this chapter. Thanks a million :) Ok here comes the new chapter...hope you like it and please review. swenglish

Disclaimer: I own nothing related to OC. This is purely fiction and not intended to hurt anyone.

Chapter 3

"No way. No freaking way!" Seth felt upset. "I can't do that." His mom had just spilled the beans that since he was at home he had to look after Ryan and this was not something that the teenager had in mind. "I'm sick too," he pouted.

"I know sweetie, but it's the best I can do under these circumstances. Ryan can't be left alone and neither I nor your dad can stay home from work today." Kirsten ran a hand over her face in a tired gesture.

Seth thought his mom looked so torn that he was starting to regret his stubborn attitude. He was also starting to rethink his options. Maybe going to school wasn't so bad after all. It sure beat someone that was puking and stuff. The mere thought of having to tend to sickness made his own stomach churn and if it wasn't for the fact that Summer would be coming over soon and that he knew he would flunk history, he would've moved his ass over to school.

On the other hand if his mom would've stayed at home Summer couldn't come either and right now she was more important to Seth than anyone else. He was stuck in a trap no matter what he did. With a sigh he decided that the best he could do was to change his act even if that meant that he had to prove his bedside manners to Ryan, which was not something that he was looking particularly forward to.

Ryan meant the world to him; it was not that, no it was more the realisation that he would have to take care of a sick, puking brother that made him rebel against his moms words. Seth didn't do sick very well, no matter who it was.

Kirsten hesitated. "Maybe I could call my dad and have them reschedule the meeting or I could get Julie to take it. Maybe Carter."

Seth didn't like seeing his mother that sad and worried and felt that he had to do something about the situation. Beside he felt he had to save his own skin too. "No mom, it's okay. I can look after Ryan. I doubt he will be much of a problem, besides I feel better already." He sat up in bed and gave a reassuring smile. "Really it's okay. It's all good."

Kirsten smiled and then gave her son a hug. "Thank you Seth. I really appreciate this and you know that you can call me at any time,"

"I know mom." Seth pulled back from his mothers embrace. "It'll be just fine. Don't worry." For once he wasn't all that talkative. He didn't know if it had to do with the fact that he was feeling nervous for pulling a scam on his parents or the fact that he felt worried that the plans he had would go down the tube. That Ryan, his best friend and brother was sick, didn't help the situation either.

"That is good." Kirsten said before adding, "You know honey you can always study on that history test that you were due to do today." There was a playful glint in her eye.

"If I'm not too weak." Seth guessed that she was on to him, that he wasn't as sick as he was making out to be. Still he decided to follow his act and therefore put on the most pitiful face he could.

As soon as Kirsten had left Seth went to see how Ryan was doing. He wanted to make sure that he was okay and if there was anything he needed. He would be able to help his brother before Summer showed up, after that there was no guarantee he would be available.

"Hey Ryan. You up? You doing okay? Mom told me that you were puking your brains out and I came to see if there was any sense left in that head of yours. Of course I mean the head up there, the one down there I don't care for very much. Thank you. But I'm sure that the girls would say differently. Especially Lindsay." Seth barged into the room with a large smile on his face only to be met with a loud groan coming from the bed.

The smell of sickness hung low in the pool house and his first reaction was to pull out before he became a victim of the bug that seemed to plague his brother. He scrunched his nose. "Phew it stinks in here." With those words walked over to the window, pulled open the blinds and opened it up a little.

This caused a reaction. "What you're doing?" The package in the bed croaked.

"Just letting some fresh air in so I…you can breathe."

"I'm cold."

Seth shook his head. "Man don't say that you're freezing? It's sweltering in here." Looking at the heater he asked, "Don't tell me you've turned up the heat?"

"Shut the window."

"Dude it doesn't exactly smells like roses in here you know. I would advise you to keep the window open, at least for a while."

"Seth!" A deep sigh.

"Okay but don't say that I didn't warn you when you're choked to death by these nasty fumes."

"Close the window. NOW." There were unspoken threats in Ryan's voice and Seth did as his brother wanted.

Ryan groaned. Seth ignored it and instead bounced down on the bed. "Guess what happened yesterday?"

No answer. Just a grunt.

Seth felt annoyed. Here he was sitting on the world's greatest news. He and Summer were a couple again and Ryan showed no interest whatsoever to hear about one of the best times in his life. He'd spent most of the morning contemplating whether or not he wanted to go through with being Summers boyfriend and the choice was easy. He loved her to death and she was all he could ever think of.

"This is the part when you're supposed to look up from that blanket of yours and ask me what kind of surprise I am hiding." Seth felt it was best to clarify what kind of actions was expected by his friend.

Ryan groaned again. "Go away."

Seth made another attempt to catch Ryan's interest. "I know that you're not feeling too hot right now but you got to hear this." He made a move to take off the pillow that Ryan had placed so comforting over his head.

"What are you doing?" Ryan looked up blear eyed.

"Just making sure that you hear the important things I have to say to you."

Ryan sighed. "If it's about you and Summer I already know." He snatched his pillow back from a surprised Seth. "Now let me sleep before I puke on you."

Seth couldn't believe his ears. How did Ryan know about him and Summer? They hadn't talked at all yesterday evening and it was all dark in the pool house when he'd gone to bed last night. "You know?"

"Mhmm." Ryan nodded slowly. "I know. I heard you guys yesterday when I went into the kitchen."

"You did?" Seth's face fell at once. It was no fun not being able to spill the news to Ryan.

"Yeah, you guys weren't exactly quiet you know." Ryan looked up from his pillow. " So she left Zach for you after all?"

This time it was Seth's turn to nod.

"That's cool. And now you're playing hooky so that you can spend some time with her?" Ryan winced in discomfort and then lay down again. Apparently something was really bothering him.

"Huh?" This was not the conversation that Seth had expected to have.

"That's at least what your dad says.".

That last sentence made Seth jerk so fast that he thought he would strain his neck. "Did dad say that?"

"Yup." Ryan paused and then added, "So Seth is that how it is? That you're ditching school so you can be with Summer?"

"Eh...Uh...kind of." There was no use in lying anymore. When Seth recovered from the information he'd just received he went on, "I think mom suspects that I'm not really that sick. She said that I could always study for the test I'm missing out on today and she said it with a real glint in her eye. You know anything about that?"

"I have no idea." Ryan shrugged. "But Sandy suspected that at least."

Now Seth knew that he would have some explaining to do when his parents came home. Maybe Summer coming over wasn't such a great idea after all. If his mom found out she would probably serve his head on a plate.

"Now that you know that I know would you kindly get out of here so I can get a few hours rest before it's time for another round?" Ryan wasn't irritated, more tired.

Seth however, made no movement. Instead he remained sitting there thinking of what to do and say when his parents would call him in on the scam he'd pulled. He knew that it wasn't that bad. After all he hadn't gotten drunk or high or killed someone, had he? Still he knew that they would be upset with him because if there were one thing his parents didn't like it was him lying. Lying about anything.

"If you don't go out would you at least move?"

"You think that they'll be very pissed when they find out that I'm not really sick?"

"Seth!" Ryan sounded whiny, but there were also something else in his tone of voice. A warning that had Seth focus up his attention. Looking at his brother he noticed that he had something desperate in his eyes and his skin tone had turned into a sickly shade of green.

"Oh shit!" Seth moved out of the way so fast that he thought his own head would spin. It was just in time not to be showered by Ryan and his stomach contents. Scrunching up his nose he felt like he wanted to escape yet he did no such thing and instead he looked with disgust at Ryan who was being violently sick into the bucket that his mom had been wise enough to place beside the bed.

"That's gross!" Seth called out, slapping his hand over his mouth with disgust.

"Then don't look."

Without further notice Seth turned his head away, but the disgusting sound followed him, making his own stomach churn with discomfort. He was shaking a little, this was one of his worst nightmares, being an only child he'd never had to tend to someone that was sick before. The sight of his brother throwing up made his own stomach turn and if it wasn't for the fact that he saw how miserable Ryan was he would have taken an escape route.

"Seth get out of here if it's bothering you," Ryan advised as he spat into the bucket, tears running down his cheeks from the strain he was putting his body through. His stomach turned itself inside and out.

Normally Seth would've taken up his brother's advice, but seeing Ryan so weak and sick made him want to stay. "No, it's ok," he reassured him as he moved towards the bed. There was still a distance between them but Seth felt that he couldn't just stand there watching, he had to do something. "You need anything?"

Ryan shook his head, still hovering over the plastic bucket. He'd stopped throwing up but it was clear that he wasn't feeling all that hot by the way he kept gagging and spitting all the time.

"You think you're done?" Seth asked when the worst bout seemed to be over.

"Yeah," Ryan nodded, but he still didn't move away from his position. "I just need to stay still for a while to make sure this has actually passed."

". You don't want me to help you out with…with that," Seth pointed with disgust at the bucket.

"No. I think I can manage. I'm not a kid you know."

The words made Seth sigh in relief and he let out a breath he hadn't even been aware he was holding. "You sure?"

"Mmmm, I'm used to taking care of myself when I'm sick so this is no big deal."

"You are?" This was so totally opposite from the way Seth was raised. Whenever he was sick his mom and dad hovered over him all the time and never in his life had he taken care of the sick bucket on his own. That was what parents were supposed to do.

"Yeah, well mom had other stuff to do." The sentence was short but said a lot. Seth didn't want to press on but sometimes he wondered about how Ryan's childhood had really been. His brother never talked that much about his past and he hadn't been the one to ask about it either. "Seth." Ryan smiled palely at him." You don't have to stay. I can manage on my own."

"You sure?"

"Yeah. I'll be fine. Don't worry."

"I'm not worrying," Seth said quickly but that was nothing but a lie. In reality he felt torn between helping and running away. Looking at Ryan he decided that his brother actually looked a bit better. He was still awfully pale and sweaty but the green tint on his cheeks had vanished and now he looked more exhausted than ill. It was that and the fact that Summer would soon be knocking at the door that made him make up his mind.

"Okay, but you know that you can just lift the phone and call me at anytime and I'll be there." He smiled at Ryan who did his best to look like he was feeling all fine and dandy.

"I know."

Seth moved with swift steps towards the door. "I'll be back and see how you're doing later on…maybe we can play some games and stuff." He knew that the words were a bit farfetched but he felt bad having to leave Ryan in this condition while he was spending time with his girlfriend.

"Maybe." Ryan laid back in his bed again, looking totally exhausted. "Say hi to Summer for me."

"Ok I'll do that." Seth said and with those words he was out of the pool house, breathing a sigh of relief.

'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''

"Cohen? Cohen, you there?" Summers high heels clicked against the floors as she walked into the empty kitchen. She'd been to Seth's room only to find it also empty apparently like the rest of the house. It was all very weird since Seth had told her that he would stay at home and she was certain that if he had changed his mind he would have called her. Seth had also told her that Ryan would be at school so she didn't think he would be out in the pool house, but finding no one she thought that had to be the last resort and if he wasn't there she would certainly kick his ass for lying to her.

She met Seth Cohen outside the pool house as he closed the door softly behind him.

"There you are. I thought you had ditched me!" Her voice was shrill and he hushed her down.

"Not so loud. He's just been able to rest."

"I'll talk as loud as I want." She pulled out of Seth's firm grip. Then she frowned. "Who's just resting? "

"Ryan." Seth steered her back to the main house. "Come on let's get inside. It's raining."

"Of course I can feel that it's raining," Summer raised her voice again. "But what the heck do you mean that Ryan has gone to bed. I thought you said that we were going to be alone?"

"We were or we...Eh aren't…but..."

Summer interrupted him. "Cohen you make no sense today. Not that you do that any other day either," she said sarcastically. Frowning she asked, "Seth! Why is Ryan at home? Why isn't he at school today?"

"He's sick."

"I thought you were the one that was sick." Summer looked confused.

"I was…But then I wasn't and then Ryan got sick so now we're both sick although I am the one that isn't sick and…."

"Stop it!" Summer placed her hand over Seth's mouth. She had just about enough of this fast talking that her "boyfriend" was so famous for doing, "Now tell me what this is all about?"

"I can't," Seth made a muffled sound behind the back of her hand.

"Why?"

"Because you're in the process of choking me."

"Oh okay..Sorry." Summer took away her hand and then added with a sarcastic touch. "The sorry is for the fact that I didn't manage to choke you." He smiled at her but she ignored it and instead went on, "but now that you're still very much alive you can continue with your story about why Ryan and you are at home at the same time."

"I told you. He's sick and he's barfing his brains out," Seth said with disgust. "But lets concentrate on us instead, after all Ryan just got the flu and I'm sure it will pass…" He moved his hand towards her breast when she slapped him on his hand. Instantly he pulled it away like he'd burnt himself on a stove.

"What? " Seth looked like a questionmark.

"The flu? Ewww Cohen! I thought I made myself clear that I didn't want to come to close to any germs whatsoever. They are so disgusting." Summer looked like she wanted to get out of the place as fast as possible.

"Yeah tell me about it." He made a face. "It's especially nasty when that green gooey stuff comes up and the person sounds like they are about to hack up a lung and…"

Seth was almost in an ecstasy as he told her all the gory details and what an awful moment he'd been going through and Summer felt it would be best to stop him or she would be the next victim. Flu or no flu.

"Shut up Cohen!" She was positively green around her gills.

"What?" Seth sounded annoyed. "I thought you wanted to know."

"I don't. Stop i!"."

"Okay." To her relief Seth quietened down at once.

When the silence had become so deafening that Summer thought she would explode she asked her boyfriend. "So what should we do now then? Just sit here and wait? What?"

Seth's face lit up. "We can always play doctor!"

"Ha ha ha if you think you're funny you had better think again." Summer made a face. Gawd Seth could be so silly at times, yet that was what she liked about him. His immature self.

"No seriously Summer. You can get into that nurse dress and we can…"

"Can what? If you think that I'm going to wait around and play nurse with Ryan you have another thing coming." Her tone was hard. Like Seth she didn't do sick very well.

"Who said anything about Ryan?" Seth frowned. "I didn't hear myself mentioning his name. No I was talking about us. About me. I'm the sick one and I need comforting." His eyes gleamed in a way that made Summer want to jump all over him. This was the Seth Cohen that she liked. That a statement could come with dirty propositions and at the same time sound like a simple request from an innocent kid.

"Oh so that was what you meant?" Now she relaxed a bit. "Well that would be kind of hard to achieve since the nurse outfit you're referring to is at home."

"Too bad." Seth grinned. "I think I would make a very good..I mean bad patient." He nibbled at her ear.

"I'm sure. Well you can always show me how good you're at anatomy, Doctor Cohen." She played along with his game and soon they ended up in the bedroom where Seth went on with a through out examination of the female anatomy.

"So how did I do?" he asked when they were resting beside each other on the bed.

"Huh?"

"Do I get my graduation or not?"

Summer had no idea what he was talking about but giggled when she referred to his test in anatomy. "Yes Dr Cohen you pass."

"Good." Seth sat up in bed. "Because I better get going."

"Going where?" She frowned.

"To see how Ryan is doing."

She made a face but understood that Seth felt obligations towards his family. Before she had a chance to react he was out off the door on his way to see his brother.